SUMMARY

Despite trailing by two sets going into the third set, UMES put forth a full team effort to defeat Mercyhurst on the road, 3-2.

THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 3

Mercyhurst Lakers - 2

(11-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21, 15-13)

HOW IT HAPPENED

On account of this being Mercyhurst's first match as a NCAA Division I volleyball program, the Hawks faced a hostile environment at Owen McCormick Court at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Fueled by the home crowd, Mercyhurst controlled the opening set, 25-11, amassing twelve kills and three service aces in the opening set. 

The Hawks began to settle into the matchup in the second set. After a slow start on offense, setter Anisa Dorlouis and her hitters began to showcase the chemistry that was built throughout the summer. Anjola Omolewa, Soleil Cotton, and Ranyla Griggs each had three kills in the frame. UMES ultimately fell short, 25-23, but generated some momentum that would ultimately help the Hawks turn the game in their favor.

Trailing by two sets, the Maroon and Gray hit their stride. Maryland Eastern Shore outhit Mercyhurst by seven kills in the third set. In addition, the Hawks got huge blocks in key moments from Dorlouis, Omolewa, and freshman Rayah Howell. Howell's block ultimately clinched the set, inciting cheers from her teammates. Compared to the first two sets, UMES cleaned up errors on both the service line and serve receive, increasing their reception percentage from .857 to .915 from set one to set three. These factors all led to a 25-16 win in the third set, earning UMES a winning set for the first time this season.

The Hawks continued to pick up steam in the fourth set. Maryland Eastern Shore trailed only once in the set, holding Mercyhurst to a -.100 attack percentage in the set. The Hawks kept the pressure on the Lakers, holding them to just six kills in the set and forcing them to side out only 37% of the time. UMES won the fourth set, 25-21, forcing a fifth set.

Under Coach Vanessa Faircloth, the Hawks have been terrific in the fifth set of matches, and this game was no exception. In a final set that featured seven ties and three lead changes, the Hawks ability to side out at a 64% rate and limit scoring runs from Mercyhurst gave the Maroon and Gray the edge. Late in the set, Rayah Howell once again came up big for UMES with a kill that gave the Hawks match point. With UMES up 14-13, Ranyla Griggs, after a solid cover from Isil Yilmaz and a floating set to the outside pin from Dorlouis, smoked a ball to the floor to clinch the final set, 15-13, and complete the comeback victory.

THE NUMBERS

Ranyla Griggs paced the Maroon and Gray attack with 15 kills while reaching the 500 kill mark for her career. Additionally,  Omolewa generated double-digit kills with 11.

Dorlouis tied her career-high for assists with 31. The sophomore setter kept Mercyhurst off balance by setting a variety of different hitters and generating five kills on setter dumps. 

Defensively, Valeria Matias led the team with 19 digs and Omolewa amassed four of UMES' nine total blocks.

Dating back to last year, the Hawks are an impressive 7-1 in five set matches in the Vanessa Faircloth era. 

UP NEXT

The UMES Hawks (1-0) will look to keep their winning ways going against the Mercyhurst Lakers (0-1) on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1:00 p.m. The game will stream on NECfrontrow.com.

FOLLOW ALONG

Keep up with the latest from UMES volleyball on UMESHawkSports.com and by following along on Twitter (@UMESHawkVball) and Instagram (@umeshawksvball).